The Owls Dominate in First Conference Win Over UAB

Sunday, December 29

Birmingham, AL

3:00 p.m.

Temple University

7-5,1-0AAC

UAB

9-4,0-1AAC

Temple

UAB

Photo by: Tim McCall

The Owls Dominate in First Conference Win Over UAB

12.29.24 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Temple women's basketball (7-5, 1-0 AAC) beat UAB (9-4, 0-1) 97-74 in its conference opener at Bartow Arena Sunday afternoon. Four Owls scored in double figures: Tiarra East (21), Jaleesa Molina (17), Anissa Rivera (13), and Tristen Taylor (13).

Tarriyonna Gary surpassed 1,000 points in today's matchup with nine points, three rebounds, and two assists. Molina had a career-high 17 points and 10 rebounds, marking her first double-double.

HOW IT HAPPENED

First Quarter

Gary scored the first point with a corner jumper, giving the Owls a two-point lead early in the first quarter. On the next possession, Gary drew a foul, making two of three free throws.
The Owls went on a 6-0 run with 8:36 remaining, with points from Gary (4) and Tierra East (2).
UAB responded with a three-pointer, ending Temple's run. The Blazers trailed by three, 6-3, with 8:18 left in the first quarter.
Gary was fouled on another possession, missing and making one, increasing the Owls' lead to 11-5.
Tristen Taylor got on the score sheet, draining a three-pointer and giving the Owls a nine-point lead, 16-7, with just over five minutes remaining.
Before the media timeout, Molina got a steal and a basket, and Temple grew the lead to 20-7 with 4:49 remaining in the first quarter. The Owls were on a 14-2 run lasting over three minutes.
Temple went on a 7-0 run, with points from Anissa Rivera (5) and Gary (2), giving them their largest lead of the day, 29-9.
The Blazers trimmed the lead to 15 with a three-pointer and a layup. Savannah Curry responded with a three-pointer to conclude the quarter, 34-16.

Second Quarter

To open the second quarter, Curry nailed a three-pointer, stretching the lead to 21 with 9:45 left.
The Blazers had two quick buckets by Rayne Tucker, cutting the lead to 18 points, 37-19.
Before the media timeout, East and Oliver combined for five points, growing the lead to 23 points with 7:40 remaining.
Following the media timeout, UAB had a scoring drought that lasted more than three minutes. During the drought, UAB had three turnovers on three possessions.
Temple went on a 9-0 run, taking a 28-point lead, 47-19, with 5:58 remaining in the half.
The Blazers nailed a much-needed three-pointer by Sara Bershers, trimming the lead to 25, 49-22. UAB went on an 8-0 run with free throws and three-pointers.
Rivera scored the last bucket of the half, extending Temple's lead to 18, 55-37.

Third Quarter

The Blazers scored the first basket of the second half with a layup from Weathersby, 55-39.
Taylor and East were part of Temple's 7-0 run, with the Owls leading 62-39 with over five minutes remaining.
Bershers drilled another shot from beyond the arc, cutting into Temple's 23-point lead. Bershers shot 3-6 from three early in the third quarter.
Drew Alexander entered the game, knocked down a three-pointer, and grabbed an offensive rebound within two minutes.
Temple extended their lead to 25 points, outscoring UAB 23-18 in the third quarter, leading 78-53.

Fourth Quarter

Walsh (2) and Elley (3) scored the first baskets in the fourth quarter with 8:20 remaining, 78-58.
Kaylah Turner scored a pair of jumpers, leading the Blazers to 82-61 with 7:28 remaining.
The Blazers went on a 6-0 run, hitting 5-7 shots from the field, following the media timeout.
Out of the timeout, Temple went on a 10-0 run, putting the Owls up by 25 points, 92-67.
Temple shot 47.1% (8-17) in the fourth quarter, giving them the 97-74 victory.

INSIDE THE BOX

Temple shot a season-high 72% (13-18) from the field in the first quarter. The Owls also had eight free-throw attempts in the first quarter, which is the most all season.
Temple's 34 points is a season-high for first-quarter points, and 55 points is a season-high for halftime points.
Temple's 34 points in the first quarter were the most in a quarter since February of the 2023-24 season against UAB (32 points).
Molina had three steals in the first half.
East led the team in rebounds with five in the first half.
The Owls had 10 personal fouls in the first half, with seven fouls in the second quarter.
Temple had three Owls in double figures after the first half: East (13), Molina (11), and Rivera (11).
Temple capitalized off of UAB's 12 turnovers in the first half, with 19 points.
Molina had a career-high 17 points and 10 rebounds, marking her first double-double.
Temple outrebounded UAB 41-27.
The Owls scored 42 points in the paint, compared to the Blazers' 24 points.
Alexander had a season-high six points.
The Owls went 18-20 from the free-throw line against UAB, achieving a free-throw percentage of 90%, the highest percentage since 2023 against UCF.